Container for the continuous treatment of web- or strand-like textile material with a treatment medium

ABSTRACT

A CONTAINER FOR THE CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF WEB- OR STRAND-LIKE TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH A TREEATMENT MEDIUM IS DISCLOSED. THE CONTAINER IS OF SUBSTANTIALLY &#34;ANNULAR&#34; CONFIGURATION, AS SUCH TERM IS USED HEREIN, AND IS SUBDIVIDED INTO COMPARTMENTS BY A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRICALLY ARRANGED INTERMEDIATE WALLS. THE COMPARTMENTS ARE DIVIDED AT THEIR HIGHEST POINT INTO SECTORS BY MEANS OF A RADIAL CHUTE OR SHAFT WHICH EXTENDS THROUGH THE CONTAINER AND COMMUNICATES WITH THE INERMOST COMPARTMENT. EACH COMPARTMENT OPENS AT THE REGION OF THE SHAFT INTO ITS NEIGHBORING COMPARTMENT ALERNATINGLY TO EACH SIDE OF THE SHAFT. FURTHERMORE, MEANS ARE PROVIDED IN THE CONTAINER IN ORDER TO GUIDE THE TEXTILE WEB OR THE LIKE THROUGH THE SHAFT AND THEREAFTER SUCCESSIVELY THROUGH ALL OF THE COMPARTMENTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF TREATING SUCH TEXTILE WEB BY THE TREATMENT MEDIUM WHICH IS LOCATED IN EACH COMPARTMENT.

NOV. 16, 1971 p, SCHROEDER 3,620,052

CONTAINER FOR THE CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF WEB-OR STRAN IKE TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH A EATMENT MEDIUM Filed Aug. 10, 1970 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Ofice Patented Nov. 16, 1971 3,620,052 CONTAINER FOR THE CONTINUOUS TREATMENT OF WEB- OR STRAND-LIKE TEXTILE MATERIAL WITH A TREATMENT MEDIUM Peter Schroeder, Arni, Switzerland, assignor to Paul Weber AG, Rotln-ist, Switzerland Filed Aug. 10, 1970, Ser. No. 62,572 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Aug. 15, 1969, 12,407/69 Int. Cl. B05c 3/132 US. Cl. 68--9 18 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A container for the continuous treatment of webor strand-like textile material with a treatment medium is disclosed. The container is of substantially annular configuration, as such term is used herein, and is subdivided into compartments by a plurality of concentrically arranged intermediate walls. The compartments are divided at their highest point into sectors by means of a radial chute or shaft which extends through the container and communicates with the innermost compartment. Each compartment opens at the region of the shaft into its neighboring compartment alternatingly to each side of the shaft. Furthermore, means are provided in the container in order to guide the textile web or the like through the shaft and thereafter successively through all of the compartments for the purpose of treating such textile web by the treatment medium which is located in each compartment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved container arrangement for the continuous treatment of textile material, typically webor strand-like textile material, with a suitable treatment medium.

A whole series of the most different type of apparatuses have already become known to the art for the purpose of attaining, in the smallest possible space, the longest possible residence time of textile material in the treatment medium, which textile material is continuously delivered to and delivered away from the relevant treatment apparatus. While conceptually it would be possible to reduce the throughput speed of the textile material, such is in direct contrast to the much desired result of increasing the output of the equipment, and, therefore, as a practical matter is not a readily acceptable solution.

The previously known treatment installations wherein the textile material is guided in countercurrent, and in accordance with the so-called cascade principle, through compartments of the bath of treatment liquid, and between neighboring compartments, externally of the bath, is squeezed and/or should pass through a tensioning measuring device, have been found to require an exceptionally large amount of space. Basically, these known installations which perform this type of treatment operation require arrangement of the individual treatment containers in a row next to one another or in stacked relation within one another, requiring a correspondingly greater amount of space, especially a larger amount of surface area.

Furthermore, equipment has become known for removing the lye from mercerized fabrics and for reclaiming such lye, wherein the fabric web located within a compartment, rendered air tight by a suitable fluid medium closure mechanism, successively passes through a plurality of basins or troughs containing a Washing liquid, the latter of which flows in countercurrent to the fabric web through the basins. In this type equipment the basins are arranged in superimposed fashion, possess an angular cross-section, have their walls overlapping one another and immerse with their bottom or base into the liquid of the basin located therebelow. Furthermore, the fabric web is guided approximately parallel to the walls of the basins.

Just as already previously explained, this known type of equipment also has the drawback that it requires a great deal of space, and furthermore the so-called residence time of the fabric web in the treatment liquid is very small in comparison to the material contents of the apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, there is a real need in the textile art for equipment for the continuous treatment of textile materials, such as Webor strand-liketextile material with a treatment medium, which is not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art constructions. Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of textile treatment equipment which is not associated with the aforementioned drawbacks and Which effectively fulfils the existing need.

Another, more specific object of the present invention relates to an improved container construction for the treatment of textile materials which does not possess the aforementioned drawbacks of the known types of equipment, and furthermore which possesses a compact, spaceand material-saving construction while enabling the effective treatment of textile material possessing extremely large material length with a very high residence time and with the same or different types of treatment media.

Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to an improved container construction for the treatment of textile materials in a continuous fashion, effectively, efficiently and reliably, allowing for maximum exposure time of the textile material to the treatment medium, and further providing versatility in the treatment ope-ration through the possibility of carrying out different types of treatment procedures with different types of treatment medium as desired.

Yet a further significant object of the present invention relates to improved construction of textile treatment equipment embodying a container equipped with mechanism for the continuous guiding and introduction of the textile material, during longer residence time, through a treatment bath, to thereby expose all portions of the textile material to the treatment medium for a sufiicient length of time to carry out satisfactory treatment of such textile material.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the container construction of the aforementioned type, is generally manifested by the feature that it possesses a substantially annular or ring-shaped configuration and is subdivided by a plurality of concentrically disposed intermediate walls into compartments which are divided at their highest location into sectors by a radially extending chute or shaft member traversing through the container and opening into the innermost compartment. Each compartment opens from the region of the shaft member into the neighboring compartment, with the communication of neighboring compartments being provided alternatingly at opposite"sides of the shaft member. Furthermore, the invention contemplates providing in the container mechanism for guiding the textile Web or the like through the shaft member and thereafter successively through all of the compartments for the purpose of treating such textile material with the treatment medium located in each com- 3 partment through which the textile material momentarily passes through.

It is here mentioned quite specifically that, in the context of this application, the expression annular or ringshaped, or equivalent terminology, as employed in conjunction with the container, is used in its broader sense, and, therefore, there should be understood a spatial configuration of optional cross-section which possesses an opening. In other words, this terminology is not strictly limited to a purely circular shape of the container since other geometric configurations are contemplated and readily possible within the confines of the inventive conceptall as will be more fully described and explained hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates in cross-sectional view a preferred construction of inventive container for the treatment of textile materials; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detail showing the transition location from one compartment to its neighboring com partment in accordance with a variant construction from that shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Describing now the drawings, the exemplary embodiment of inventive container construction for the treatment of textile materials will be seen to comprise a container body member 1a possessing a substantially circular-cylindrical outer wall 1 and a likewise circular-cylindrical inner wall 2, which is concentric to the outer wall 1. Furthermore, two ring-shaped end walls, not visible in the drawing, serve to close the space between the walls 1 and 2 at the sides thereof. The annular or ring-shaped container, constructed in this manner, and possessing a horizontally disposed lengthwise axis bears upon a support member 3. Furthermore, the annular compartment located between the outer wall 1 and the inner wall 2 is sub-divided by a plurality of intermediate walls 4, 5, 6 and 7. Once again, intermediate walls 4, 5, 6 and 7 likewise possess a substantially cylindrical configuration and extend concentrically with respect to the aforementioned walls 1 and 2. The container construction of the invention further contemplates the provision of a chute or shaft member 8 extending from the apex or top point of the container body In radially towards the inside thereof and over the entire length of such container. Chute or shaft member 8 furthermore opens into the innermost partial compartment 3 formed between the wall members 2 and 4 and simultaneously divides all of the partial compartments 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of the container into sectors. Consequently, each of the partial compartments 9 to 13 substantially possess the form of an open at the top.

Furthermore, the intermediate walls 4, 5, 6 and 7 are alternately sealed or welded by means of their one terminal edge against the one or the other of the side walls 14 and 15, respectively of the chute or shaft mem her 8, and with their oppositely situated terminal end do not extend completely to the other side wall of such chute member, so that each of the partial compartments 9 to 13 alternatingly is opened, in other words, communicates With the neighboring compartment at the region of the shaft member 8. Hence, with the foregoing explanation in mind, it will be observed that the terminal end portions of the intermediate walls and 7 are sealingly connected with the side wall 14 of the shaft member 8, whereas at the opposite side Wall 15, there are sealingly connected with such last-mentioned side wall the terminal end portions of the intermediate walls 4 and 6. Additionally, the transition location from the individual compartments 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 to the neighboring compartment have conveniently been designated by reference numerals 16, 17, 18 and 19, respectively.

Apart from the foregoing structure, the invention further contemplates the provision of additional elements for guiding, transporting and/or supporting a textile web or the like within the internal space of the container and through the individual compartments 9 to 13. Thus, by way of example, in the illustrated embodiment such elements are represented by suitable rollers or rolls, serving to carry out different purposes, and which will be more fully explained hereinafter in conjunction with the guiding of a textile web B through the container.

The textile web B is guided via a tension measuring device 20 equipped with dancer roll means 20a through the chute or shaft member 8 to the first row of roller members 21. The individual rollers or rolls 21 of this first row are arranged closely adjacent to one another within the innermost compartment 9. In the illustrated arrangement the tension measuring device 20 is situated externally of the container body member 1a. However, according to a nonillustrated variant form of the invention, this tension measuring device 20 could also be arranged at the apex of the compartment 9 at the inlet location for the textile web B.

Similar roller members 21, also arranged in similar fashion, are provided for the remaining compartments 10, 11, 12 and 13. The rollers 21 preferably possess a perforated surface so that the treatment medium within the compartments 9 to 13 can contact the textile web B or other textile material at both sides. This perforation, schematically represented at 21a in the drawing, furthermore prevents the formation of a fluid medium-cushion between the textile Web B and the rollers 21 which, otherwise, could increase the tension prevailing at the web or textile material since such fluid medium-cushion would therefore increase the circumference of the rollers.

The arrangement of the rollers 21 is chosen such that they are located as closely as possible to one another without touching. Hence, there is simultaneously achieved that the free unsupported path of the textile web B is relatively small. This textile web B is guided about the rollers 21 in a meander-like or serpentine-like fashion. Since the rollers 21 are situated very close to one another, they tend to form a practically uninterrupted support for the textile web. By virtue of this particularly positive guiding of the textile web B by the rollers 21 there results a so-called opening and closing action due to the alter nately opposite deflection or bending of the textile web which is particularly important for the penetration of the treatment medium through the boundary layer since during the curvature of the material of the web the spaces between the fibres are closed at the inside of the web material and tend to thereby expel any liquid or treatment fluid located therein. During the directly subsequent deflection or bending of the web material, the textile web B is deflected or bent to the other side, and the prior closed intermediate spaces are now opened, the externally situated intermediate spaces between the fibres therefore enlarged and draw fluid or liquid from the outside. Consequently, there occurs at the relatively thick boundary layer, existing at the textile web having the standard surface roughness, a fluid exchange flow which extends from the surfaces of the fibres to the boundary layer surfaces of the textile web. As a result, the desired concentration gradient is produced directly at the fibre surfaces.

When the textile web has reached the end of the innermost compartment 9, it is introduced via a further textile material tensioning measuring device 22 through the transition location 16 to the next innermost compartment 10. The textile web B moves through this compartment 10 in the same serpentine-like or undulating-like fashion as it moved through the compartment 9, but in an opposite direction, and travels about the associated roller members 21 thereof until reaching the corresponding transition location 17 where it again is guided via a further tension measuring device into the next innermost compartment 11. Now, just as was the case heretofore, the textile web B moves through the compartment 11, then through the further compartments 12 and 13 and at the end of the outermost compartment 13 is withdrawn through a discharge or outlet connection 23 provided at the outer wall 1, from the container. Of course, the textile web B, or other material undergoing treatment, could be guided in the same manner but in the opposite direction through the container construction.

In order to maintain tension differences as small as possible during travel of the web through the container, it is advantageous to drive, with the same speed, all or at least the majority of the roller members by means of a common drive mechanism, for instance schematically indicated by reference character 30, as such is known in the textile art for the continuous treatment of textile webs.

Furthermore, it is also conceivable and possible to omit in individual or all of the compartments 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 individual ones of the guideand deflecting rollers 21, preferably the lower ones, whereby then the web is drawn through the treatment medium as if it were delivered to the cylinder in a loose condition. Hence, with materials suitable for this type of treatment, it is possible to obtain for special treatments particularly long residence times.

Now, in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, there have been arranged tensioning measuring devices at the transition locations 16 to 19 of neighboring compartments 9 to 13. However, it would also be readily possible to provide at these transition locations from one compartment to the next as shown in FIG. 2, additionally a squeezing mechanism 24, or even such squeezing mechanism for itself, that is to say, while omitting the textile material-tension measuring device.

The described and illustrated container construction is designed for a continuous wet treatment of a textile web or the like in accordance with the so-called cascade principle and in countercurrent flow to the treatment fluid medium. The connection member or stud 23, through which the web of material discharges from the container, simultaneously serves as the infeed opening for the treatment liquid or the like. For the withdrawal of this treatment liquid from the container, there may be advantageously provided at the periphery of the innermost compartment 9 at the'location of the entering of the chute or shaft member 8 into this compartment 9, a discharge opening 25.

In order to intensify the treatment effect within the individual compartments, it is possible to additionally provide Wide mouth nozzle members, by means of which the treatment liquid from the individual compartments additionally can be circulated or introduced from the outside into these compartments. Such type wide mouth nozzle members have, for instance, been schematically indicated at location 28 for the compartment 13 of FIG. 1.

The opening of each compartment to the neighboring compartment forms a free overflow for the treatment liquid, with the level of the liquid in each partial compartment regulating itself in accordance with the principle of communicating conduits. The height of the overflow, in other words the position of the liquid level within the partial compartments 9 to 13, is determined by the preferably adjustable sheet metal partition wall members 26 provided at the free terminal edges of the intermediate separation walls 4, 5, 6 and 7. In so doing, it is remarkable that at the transition locations between the compantments, there always appears a space or area free of liquid, in other words an air pocket or chamber is formed, within which there can be housed the tension measuring device 22 and/ or the squeezing mechanism 24.

However, it is also readily possible to till the entire container contents, in other words also the previously mentioned spaces free of liquid, with treatment liquid, if the innermost discharge opening 25 is closed, because then the container functions as a unit in accordance with the principle of a communicating conduit, via the connection piece 23 and the shaft member 8 in which, then, the liquid medium ascends.

An extended further possibility of utliziation of the inventive container arrangement can be provided if individand 13 are equipped with separate infeed conduits or lines, such as shown schematically in FIG. 1 by reference numeral 40, and discharge lines or conduits, as indicated by reference character 50, for the treatment medium. Then, it is possible to subject a textile web within the container to different successive treatments, in that the individual compartments are filled with different treatment media. Furthermore, it is also completely possible to utilize, apart from a liquid medium, also a gaseous medium during such a mixed treatment operation.

Furthermore, it is also possible to construct the entire container as a pressure container so that it is possible to operate with fluid medium temperatures exceeding C.

With the described and herein illustrated container construction, the container outer wall 1, the container inner wall 2 and the intermediate walls 4, 5, 6 and 7, have been arranged geometrically similar and concentrically with respect to one another. Yet, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiment disclosed herein is given purely for illustrative purposes, and in no way is to be interpreted in a limiting sense, since for purposes of achieving the most advantageous manufacture of this structure, there has intentionally been selected the circular-shaped type cross-sectional configuration. But, instead of using the circular-type cross-sectional configuration, it would also be possible to select for the aforementioned wall members also oval and square or rectangular shapes, which have geometrically similar cross-sectional configurations. Furthermore, it should be understood that in order to attain the previously explained advantages, it is not necessary and, in fact, under certain applications, it could even be advantageous, to have individual or all of the intermediate walls designed such that they do not possess a form which is geometrically similar to the outerand inner-walls of the container, or even similar to one another.

The illustrated and described container construction, apart from the already mentioned advantages and possibilities which can be realized during the treatment of textile materials, also affords the further noteworthy advantage that its free internal space or opening 27 within the inner wall 2 can be used for the installation of all of the drive and control-members required for successful operation of the equipment. For instance, the drive motor means 30 for the drive of the roller members could be arranged at one side of this internal area or space 27, as shown, and the electrical or electronic controls could be mounted at the other side of such internal space. This renders possible the complete connection and adjustment of the entire installation at its situs of manufacture. The installation work at the place of use is then reduced to a minimum, namely to the connections means for the infeed and outfeed of the treatment medium and to the connection of the equipment with the power supply network.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A container construction for the continuous treatment of textile materials, especially webor strand-like textile materials, with a treatment medium, comprising a container body member, a plurality of substantially concentrically arranged intermediate wall members for subdividing the interior of said container body member into a plurality of compartments extending from the outside of said container body member towards the inside thereof, a chute member extending radially through said container body member and communicating with the innermost situated compartment, said radially extending chute member dividing each compartment at its highest location into sectors, means for alternately communicating to each side of said chute member neighboring compartments with one another, and means within said container body member for guiding the textile material through said chute member and successively through all of said compartments for the purpose of subjecting such textile material to treatment by a treatment medium located in each compartment through which such textile material passes.

2. The container construction as defined in claim 1, wherein said container body member possesses a substantially annular configuration.

3. The container construction as defined in claim 1, wherein said container body member incorporates a container outer wall and a container inner wall, said container outer wall, said container inner wall and said intermediate wall members being geometrically similar to one another, said intermediate wall members alternatingingly being connected with one side of said chute member and being spacedly arranged from the other side of said chute member, to thereby provide said alternate communication of neighboring compartments with one another to each side of said chute member.

4. The container construction as defined in claim 3, wherein the spacing of each intermediate wall member from said chute member defines an opening for each compartment which forms an overflow to the neighboring compartment.

5. The container construction as defined in claim 4, further including adjustable partition wall means for forming said overflow for each compartment.

6. The container construction as defined in claim 1, further including means for introducing a treatment fluid medium into the outermost compartment and means for removing such treatment fluid medium from the innermost compartment from the bottom region thereof, after such treatment fluid medium has flown in cascade-like fashion through said plurality of compartments.

7. The container construction as defined in claim 1, further including means for receiving different types of treatment fluid medium in the individual compartments.

8. The container construction as defined in claim 1, further including means located at the highest point of the outermost compartment of said container body member for the discharge of the textile material, said textile material being introduced into the innermost compartment through the agency of said chute member.

9. The container construction as defined in claim 8, wherein said discharge means for said textile material simultaneously functions as the inlet means for a treatment fluid medium.

10. The container construction as defined in claim 1,

8 said guide means including roller means provided for at least a portion of said plurality of compartments for guiding the textile material within the compartments equipped with said roller means in a substantially serpentine-like fashion.

11. The container construction as defined in claim 5, wherein the region of the opening communicating each compartment with its neighboring compartment defines a transition location, textile material-tension measuring means, squeezing mechanism, or both, being arranged at said transition location.

12. The container construction as defined in claim 3, wherein said container outer wall, said container inner wall, and said intermediate wall members are formed as circular cylindrical members having respective horizontally extending axes.

13. The container construction as defined in claim 12, wherein said container body member is provided with a free internal space capable of accommodating all of the drive means and control means for the operation of the container.

14. The container construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the entire container unit is designed as a pressure container.

15. The container construction as defined in claim 1, wherein said chute member cooperates with said plurality of compartments so that the treatment fluid medium can communicate with all of said compartments in the manner of a communicating conduit system.

16. The container construction as defined in claim 1, further including means provided for at least individual ones of said plurality of compartments for the separate infeed and outfeed of treatment medium.

17. The container construction as defined in claim 1, further including means provided for at least some of said compartments for the infeed of treatment fluid medium.

18. The container construction as defined in claim 17, wherein said infeed means comprises wide mouth nozzle means serving for the introduction of new treatment fluid medium or for the circulation of treatment fluid medium located in the compartments.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,366,100 12/1944 Green 68175 2,505,657 4/1950 Wentz 68-9 X 3,439,365 4/1969 Bahnsen 689 X FOREIGN PATENTS 632,422 1/1962 Italy 6827 WILLIAM I. PRICE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

